2009 HONDA CIVIC towing

When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering wheel,
then turn the wheel to the left to get
the trailer to move to the lef t, and
turn the wheel right to move the
trailer to the right.
Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause the trailer to
sway. When being passed by a large
vehicle, keep a constant speed, and
steer straight ahead. Do not try to
make quick steering or braking
corrections.
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the suspension,
cooling system, and lights are in
good operating condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits (see pages and ).
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
All items in or on the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly. Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated, and the trailer
tires and spare are inf lated as
recommended by the trailer
maker.
283 284
bottom
Pre-T ow ChecklistBacking Up
Parking
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Towing a Trailer
Driving
287
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The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others,taketimetopracticedriving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
below.
Drive slower than normal in all
driving situations, and obey posted
speed limits f or vehicles with trailers.
If you have an automatic
transmission, use D position when
towing a trailer on level roads. D is
the proper shif t lever position to use
when towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
(See ‘‘ ’’ in the next
column f or additional gear
inf ormation.)Maketurnsmoreslowlyandwider
than normal. The trailer tracks a
smaller arc than your vehicle, and it
canhitorrunoversomethingthe
vehicle misses. Allow more time and
distance f or braking. Do not brake or
turn suddenly as this could cause the
trailer to jackknif e or turn over.
When climbing hills, closely watch
your temperature gauge. If it nears
the red (Hot) mark, turn the air
conditioning of f , reduce speed and, if
necessary, pull to the side of the
road to let the engine cool.
If the automatic transmission shifts
f requently while going up a hill, shif t
to D .
If youmuststopwhenfacinguphill,
use the f oot brake or parking brake.
Do not try to hold the vehicle in
place by pressing on the accelerator,
as this can cause the automatic
transmission to overheat.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed, and shif t down to second
gear. Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember, it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.
33
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
T owing Speeds and Gears
Driving on Hills Making T urns and Braking
Driving on Hills
Towing a Trailer
288
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If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. Seeon page .
Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to
on page .
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run.
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page
).
79
266 352
344 332
358Emergency
Towing
Starting the
Engine
T he Starter Operates Normally
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
343
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Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine, and check
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair (seeon page ).
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge comes down to the midpoint,
then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ).
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page ). Add coolant if the level is
below the MIN mark. Start the engine, and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum heat. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. Af ter the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap, and turn it until it comes
off.
If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may need to add
coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the reading
reaches the middle of the
temperature gauge or lower
bef ore checking the radiator.
7. 8. 9.
3. 4. 5. 6. 10. 11.
358
358
253 Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
If theEngineOverheats
348
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.
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However, if the brake pedal does not
f eel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system’s dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will f eel the brake
pedal go down much f arther bef ore
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on the
pedal.
Slow down by shif ting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed and repaired as
soon as possible (seeon page ).
If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and caref ully. If the ABS indicator comes on with
the brake system indicator, have
your vehicle inspected by your
dealer immediately.
The brake system indicator normally
comes on when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position and as
a reminder to check the parking
brake. It will stay on if you do not
f ully release the parking brake.
If the brake system indicator comes
on while driving, the brake f luid level
is probably low. Press lightly on the
brake pedal to see if it f eels normal.
If it does, check the brake f luid level
thenexttimeyoustopataservice
station (see page ).
If the f luid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads. 310
358Emergency
Towing
Brake System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
351
Canada
U.S.
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If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.
The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
Therearetwowaystotowyour
vehicle: If , due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the f ront wheels on
the ground, do this:
Release the parking brake.
Shif t the transmission to neutral.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the f ront tires and lif t them of f
the ground. The rear tires remain on
the ground. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
do not tow the vehicle more than 50
miles (80 km), and keep the speed
below35mph(55km/h).
Start the engine.
Press on the brake pedal. Move
the shif t lever through all its
positions.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
Release the parking brake.
Turn of f the engine.
Shif t to D position f or 5 seconds,
then to N.
Manual transmission:
Automatic transmission:
Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment
T his is the best way to
transport your vehicle.
This is an acceptable
way to tow your vehicle.
Emergency T owing
358
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
vehicle must be transported with the
f ront wheels of f the ground.
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Do not tie down the vehicle at an
angle that would allow the towing
cables to contact the vehicle’s f ront
bumper. To avoid possible damage,
protect the f ront bumper with tape.
If your vehicle is equipped with a
f ront spoiler, remove it bef ore
towing so it is not damaged.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
359
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY (I)
position, and make sure the steering
wheel turns f reely bef ore you begin
towing.
Trying to lif t or tow your vehicle by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the vehicle’s weight.
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Î
CONT INUED
Doors.
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking . 83
.....................
Auto Door Locking . 83
.................
Auto Door Unlocking . 85
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 81
......................
Power Door Locks . 82
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 367
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission . 267
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 263
....................................
Economy . 254
..................................
Guidelines . 264
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 320
...................................
Fan, Interior . 110 .........................................
Features . 109
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 249
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 320
...............................................
Oil . 302
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 309
................................
Shif ting the . 267
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 337
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 308
..........................................
Brake . 310
.........................................
Clutch . 311
...................................
Locations . 298
..............
Manual Transmission . 309
..........................
Power Steering . 311
..................
Windshield Washer . 307
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 198
........................................
Fog Lights . 74
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 97
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 76
..............................
Front Airbags . 9, 24
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 254
............
Emergencies on the Road . 335
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 344
...........
Brake System Indicator . 351
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 337
.....
Charging System Indicator . 349
..................
Checking the Fuses . 352
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 349
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 350 ..................
Overheated Engine . 347
.........................
Emergency Brake . 105
......................
Emergency Flashers . 76
......................
Emergency Towing . 358
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 89
.......................
Emissions Controls . 372
........................
Emissions Testing . 375Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 70
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 269, 272
Malf unction Indicator
......................................
Lamp . 350
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 65, 349
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 300
...............................
Overheating . 347
............................
Specif ications . 364
.......................................
Starting . 266
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 249
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 372
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 51
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 16
Index
F
E
INDEX
III
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